Children from all over the internets, gather 'round and let me tell you a tale. It is a tale of grand proportions, a tale upon an epic scale, a tale so amazing that few can read it without being physically AND emotionally moved. It is a tale of a young lad, a lad named Keith.
This young lad had a very peculiar problem - he was love struck. He had eyes for one and no other, and he believed whole heartedly that they were meant for each other. However, it seemed, at least to him, that the universe was dead-set on preventing him from being with his love. This is not his story, but rather the story of "Much Ado about Nothing" with Keith superimposed upon the main character!
Just kidding.
Here we go. (and sorry if this episode isn't as funny...)

"So Keith...any idea where we're headed?"
"Well, you were the one who suggested Lance; you said he could help point us in the right direction."
"Yes, and I was wrong. Now it's your turn to be wrong."
"Hahaha, ok." He stopped walking for a second to think, and Ben got a bit ahead, and then stopped himself.
"Keith..."
"I'm trying to think, just wait a sec."
"Keith..."
"Seriously Ben, shut up and lemme think."
"Keith!"
"What [interrobang]" he shouted, turning around.

He then saw what Ben had been trying to get him to look at - a roughly human size (though taller) green creature. The two had seen many creatures before, but none quite its...color. It was green - a vibrant and loud but still dark green. In fact, they hadn't seen any creature of this color, no matter the species (and they couldn't discern what exact species it was either). It was facing the other direction, and thus Ben and Keith were looking at its back. From what they could tell, it looked like some sort of lion that was standing on its back paws. However, the oddest thing about it was not its size or looks, but the fact that it was singing. In fact, its singing seemed to be taking up its concentration so much that it hadn't even noticed the shouting going on behind it.
"I'm all alone...there's no one here beside me" sang the creature in surprisingly pleasant baritone. Still singing, it turned around. Seeing the two teens (who could now see that it had the head of some kind of bird), it stopped abruptly.

"How long have you guys been here?" it asked uneasily.
"Long enough, little creature man," Ben replied in a nonviolent tone.
"That's little sphinx man, I'll have you know. "
"Wait..." Keith said, "I thought sphinxes had human heads...your head is some kind of bird's head."
"Well, just because the Great Sphinx has the head of a man doesn't mean that all sphinxes do! And my head is that of a falcon, thank you very much!"
"Sorry, sphinx man..." Ben responded, hoping not to offend.
"Please, call me Derrek."
"Well Derrek, I'm sorry but we have to kill you now," said Keith, looking at Ben for support.
"Now wait just a second Keith...why do we have to kill him?"
"What do you mean?"
"We've been attacked by almost every kind of creature under the sun and the first time we meet one who doesn't try to attack us, you want to start a fight with?"
"Well, when you put it that way...Derrek, what are you doing out here?"
"Well...Keith was it? I'm out here because I got left behind."
"By who?"
"The group I was travelling with - a couple of sphinxes, a few ogres, and even a troll. They left me behind because...well...I'm not like them."
"Because you're green?"
"Well, that and that I'm small. Plus, for a sphinx, I should be walking on all fours, not on my rear feet."
"Well," said Ben, cutting into the conversation, "it sounds like you have some problems with these other creatures."
"But," said Keith, sensing where Ben was going, "are you really that different?"
"Well, I guess I am. After all, I'm the only one who actually had a name...plus, I don't quite agree with their ideas..."
"Huh?" Keith seemed a tad confused, and shot a look at Ben, who seemed equally confused.
"Do you mean," said Ben, "that you don't believe they should be attacking humans and whatnot?"

"Well, they only do that so they can clear out these places. But the problem is that many of these creatures have been brainwashed or are mindless slaves. Someone is pulling the strings, and I don't think we should be going along with it. Please believe me when I say that these monsters aren't purposely and senselessly attacking you guys. They don't have a choice. I just want to help them...
"But they don't see any problem with what's going on. They seem to like it, because now they can finally be out of the shadows...but I just wish it could stop."

"Well," said Ben, "It seems to me that we have a common goal."
"Yeah...and as much as I hate to say it," Keith began, "I think you should come with us and help us rescue my true love."
"And defeat the evil," Ben said. "Don't forget that part."
"I wouldn't mind joining you guys. After all...it can get lonely out here." Derrek almost started singing again, but Keith shot him a look.
"Then I guess it's settled," said Ben, laughing at the two of them. "The three of us set off now."
"But where," Derrek asked.
"Yeah...I was supposed to decide that, wasn't I?" Keith paused again to think.
"Well, we got our wings in Florida, and that's where I was told to find the other angels. Maybe if we go back there, we can see where we should go next, or find other angels."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Ben said.
"Then let's go," Keith said, beginning to continue down the road.

TO BE CONTINUED